EFNL Division 3 2024: Knox on track for first finals series since 2017
Last time Knox contested finals, current mentor Steve Buckle coached the opposing team in a losing decider. Now, the triple flag coach is on track to returning the Falcons to September.
Eastern
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Triple Eastern league premiership coach Steve Buckle believes his young Knox group is rediscovering a winning culture as it sits entrenched in the Division 3 top four.
Fresh off a 112-point thumping of Upper Ferntree Gully, the Falcons boast an 8-5 record – eight points clear in fourth spot – having also claimed the scalp of second-placed Surrey Park in recent weeks.
The club was relegated from Division 2 at the end of last season, winning just three games.
It hasn’t contested finals since its 2017 flag in the league’s second tier – which it won against the Buckle-coached Doncaster East.
“It’s taken us a while to find a bit of consistency,” Buckle said of Knox’s 2024 season.
“We got Surrey at a good time, they had a few out, but we still have a lot out as well and we’re blooding a lot of under-19s.
“We had five guys under the age of 20 playing (against Surrey Park) and it just shows what great depth we’ve got at the club.
“Getting that scalp of Surrey and coming from behind in trying conditions, it’s given the group a bit of belief because it’s been a long time since the club’s had some success.
“The challenge for us going into Upper (Gully) was to back that up and not get in front of ourselves, and to the boys’ credit they acquitted themselves well.”
Among the emerging talent lighting it up this season has been pacy utility Harry O’Brien.
“(He’s) continued on his form from last year, he finished second in our best and fairest – he could play under-19s this year, too,” Buckle said.
But he’s not the only rising young gun.
Small forward and midfielder Aaron Taylor has featured in the best on four occasions, while versatile talent and vice-captain Tom Weir hasn’t missed a beat according to the coach.
Recent Vermont import James Fisher kicked two goals on the weekend, while Devan La Fontaine – still eligible for under-19s – has played the past four games in the seniors, booting four majors.
“They’ve been unbelievable this year and have stood up every week,” Buckle said of his young talent.
The Falcons have also been boosted by the mid-season inclusions of ruckman Zac Hanlen (Vermont) and midfielder-forward Callan Burns (South Belgrave).
Burns has played the past two top-flight games, while Hanlen featured in his first match for the club on Saturday, addressing a dearth of ruckmen in the senior line-up.
“We’ve been filling that void all of last year and this year,” Buckle said.
“That allows Harry (Greaves) to spend more time forward and Ethan (Murray) to go back to his role down back or play forward if we need him there as well.”
Knox faces Fairpark (seventh), Donvale (first), Oakleigh District (fifth), Ferntree Gully (eighth) and Warrandyte (10th) to close out the home-and-away season.
“We’ve still got a reasonably tough run home … there’s no easy games – for us, and it’s been the challenge all year, is to find that consistency,” Buckle said.
“The signs are pointing to us finding our feet a bit and all the boys have wrapped their head around how we want to play and buy in on a weekly basis.”
The club suffered two relegations in three completed seasons, having also been dropped from Division 1 (the league’s second tier) at the end of 2019.
“When you’ve been told you’re s*** for so long – and we’ve had a couple of tough years – that starts resonating and sinking into the boys’ brains,” Buckle said.
“They start losing confidence, but we think we’re starting to get that winning culture back again.”
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